I’ve always been a big-rig-guy. My current rig weighs in at 18lbs.
My opinion soon changed after Ray Roman’s Wedding Cinematography seminar. When I saw how easily he was able to capture great looking images using a Canon 5D and a Manfrotto monopod, I got really excited.
Having been curious about monopods for a while I decided to go with the exact one Ray uses, the Manfrotto MVM500A, which at about 6.1 lbs was actually lighter than my camera, lens and EVF.
If you have ever tried to pan with a regular monopod, you know how hard it is to get a smooth pan. The Manfrotto fluid monopods have a fluid cartridge built into the base of the monopod for incredibly smooth, jump-free panning. When you twist the monopod, the feet stay firmly planted, and the monopod swivels at the base.
It is these three pivoting, retractable feet at the bottom on the monopod that ensure a firm footing. You can also rest your foot on one of these feet to insure that it doesn’t move, and tilt the monopod for a zoom-like action.
For tilting, they use fluid bridging technology built into the head as usual, so it is just having the fluid cartridge built into the base that takes a bit of getting used to. There is also a handy pan arm attached to the head to help your panning and tilting. The sliding plate allows you to balance your camera, and to easily pop it on and off of the monopod, just like on a tripod.
The Manfrotto MVM500A is 30.3” closed, and expands to 78.9’’, which is tall enough for anything that I can think of. It has three sections, and I found that by extending the lowest section first, it allowed me to make quick adjustments on the uppermost section nearest the camera.
At about $280, the MVM500A allows you to quickly move in crowded or tight spaces, and get shots that would be impossible on your tripod. It is my favorite new tool.
For more information go to www.manfrotto.com